Addresses the most common myths and misconceptions that plague home gardeners and horticultural professionals.
Preface
CRITICAL THINKING
The Myth of Absolute Science
The Myth of Indisputable Information
The Myth of Organic Superiority, Part I
The Myth of Organic Superiority, Part 2
UNDERSTANDING HOW PLANTS WORK
The Myth of Fragile Roots
--Pruning Flawed Woody Roots Before Transplanting
The Myth of Mighty Roots
The Myth of Top-Pruning Transplanted Material
The Myth of Tree Topping
How Big is Big?
The Myth of Hot-Weather Watering
HOW / WHAT / WHEN / WHERE TO PLANT
The Myth of Instant Landscaping
The Myth of Native Plant Superiority
--Going Native? Or Not?
The Myth of Well-behaved Ornamentals
The Myth of Plant Quality
--Choosing the Best Plants at the Nursery
The Myth of Drainage Materials in Containers
The Myth of Collapsing Root Balls
The Myth of Tree Staking
SOIL ADDITIVES
The Myth of Soil Amendments, Part 1
The Myth of Soil Amendments, Part 2
The Myth of Soil Amendments, Part 3
The Myth of Phosphate Fertilizer, Part 1
The Myth of Phosphate Fertilizer, Part 2
The Myth of Beneficial Bonemeal
The Myth of Polyacrylamide Hydrogels
The Myth of Wandering Weedkiller
MULCHES
The Myth of Landscape Fabric
--Using Arborist Wood Chips for Weed Control
The Myth of Clean Compost
--How Does Mulching Reduce Pesticide and Fertilizer Use?
The Myth of Paper-Based Sheet Mulch
The Myth of Pretty Mulch
--Characteristics of an Ideal Landscape Mulch
MIRACLES IN A BAG / BOTTLE / BOX
The Myth of Compost Tea
The Myth of Compost Tea Revisited
The Myth of Mineral Magic
The Myth of Vitamin Shots
The Myth of Vitamin Stimulants
The Myth of Wound Dressings
Essential Garden Tools and Products
Index
Linda Chalker-Scott is an extension urban horticulturist and associate professor at Puyallup Research and Extension Center, Washington State University. She is the Washington State editor of MasterGardener magazine and for six years she authored an online column,
"Chalker-Scott is a one-woman Consumer Reports on gardening
practices. Her book takes a look at what we think we know and what
we've heard to be true, then holds it up against what research
shows."
*The Patriot News*
"This groundbreaking book belongs in every gardener's library.
Rather than pushing one viewpoint over another, the author brings a
voice of reason to gardening without the usual hype."
*BellaOnline*
"A succinct and easy-to-navigate resource . . . . Chalker-Scott's
instructions are clear enough for even a first-time gardener to
follow."
*The Bloomsbury Review*
"This enjoyable book should find its way into the hands of almost
every gardener. . . . Highly recommended for public libraries with
gardeners ready to tackle the literature, as well as academic and
special libraries with interests in horticulture and
gardening."
*Library Journal*
"Chalker-Scott's approach is unique in that she speaks about
gardening as a genuine expert—- with academic credentials—- who
debunks numerous myths. . . . in a manner that is easy for us
laypeople to understand and absorb. . . Her conclusions are good
advice for all of us to follow."
*Washington State Grange News*
"In her first book she takes on common garden myths about
fertilizer, mulch, transplanting, staking, compost tea, watering
and many more potentially confusing topics. She skillfully debunks
them with current research as well as her experience in extension
horticulture."
*Seattle Times*
"The Informed Gardener is a thorough, well-written guide and is
highly recommended to any gardening enthusiast."
*Midwest Book Review*
"An informative, helpful guide to sustainable landscaping, with
valuable emphasis on cutting through many of the myths and
misunderstandings that now surround this increasingly hot
topic."
*Seattle Post-Intelligencer*
"[Linda Chalker-Scott's] book does great service in helping the
urban gardener move past common practices that hinder instead of
help, looking to nature itself as the ultimate teacher of
truths."
*Cascadia Weekly*
"Linda Chalker-Scott is gardening's version of television's
'MythBusters.' Ok, so she isn't so keen on blowing things up, but
she does use scientific research to explain why many traditional
horticultural practices aren't suitable for urban landscapes."
*Tacoma News*
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